Mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a resorbable polymeric mesh implant, that is intended to be used in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The mesh implant comprises at least a first and a second material, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first material following the time of implantation. The mesh implant is adapted to have a predetermined modulus of elasticity that gradually is decreased until the mesh implant is completely degraded and subsequently resorbed. Due to the gradual decrease in the modulus of elasticity of the inventive mesh implant, the regenerating tissue may gradually take over the load applied to the tissue defect area.

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/019,534, filed Dec. 23, 2004, whose entire contents are incorporated herein by reference. Also, the subject matter of this application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/472,563, filed Jun. 22, 2006 and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/808,563, filed Jun. 11, 2007. The entire contents of the U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/472,563 and 11/808,563 applications (including the meshes, materials, processes, and techniques related to reconstruction of soft tissue defects that are described therein) are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a resorbable polymeric mesh implant, a polymeric mesh implant kit, and the uses thereof. The mesh implant, as well as the kit, is intended to be used in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The mesh implant comprises at least a first material and a second material, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first material, following the time of implantation of the mesh implant. The mesh implant is adapted to have a substantially constant modulus of elasticity during the primary wound healing period, after which period the modulus of elasticity is decreased until the mesh implant substantially looses its mechanical properties and subsequently is completely degraded and absorbed by the body. Due to the gradual decrease in the modulus of elasticity of the inventive mesh implant, the regenerating tissue may gradually take over the load applied to the tissue defect area until the mesh implant is completely resorbed. With the inventive mesh implant there is no longer a need for inert, non-resorbable, long term supporting structures.

BACKGROUND ART

Within the field of surgical repair of soft tissue defects, use is often made of a mesh implant made of a non-resorbable material that is inserted to cover the area of the tissue defect. The mesh implant is used in order to support the regenerating tissue, and in, e.g. hernia defects, it works by mechanical closure of the defect and by inducing a strong scar fibrous tissue around the mesh implant. Such a mesh implant is most often made of various plastics, which are known to stay biostable and safe for a number of years after implantation. However, introducing a foreign material into the human or animal body is most often accompanied with side effects like migration, chronic inflammation, risk of infection etc. The introduction of a relatively large plastic body is also likely to induce a foreign body-reaction caused by the body's immune defence system. As a result, the mesh implant may crumple up and loose its tissue supporting function.

The above mentioned mesh implants are in particular used in the repair of defects in the abdominal wall, which may be a result from trauma, tumour resection, prolapse or hernia.

A hernia is an abnormal protrusion of a peritoneal-lined sac through the musculoaponeurotic covering of the abdomen, the most common site for a hernia being the groin. Types of hernia are, among others, inguinal hernia or a femoral hernia, hiatal hernia, umbilicial hernia and incisional hernia, the latter being a hernia that pushes through a past surgical incision or operation.

One suggested theory in the field is that some patients, due to collagen metabolic disorders, have a genetic predisposition for developing recurrent hernias. An altered ratio of collagen types I and III in these patients, with an increase in collagen type III, is believed to reduce the mechanical strength of connective tissues. The decreased tensile strength of collagen type III plays a key role in the development of incisional hernias, see KLINGE, U, et al. Abnormal collagen I to III distribution in the skin of patients with incisional hernia. Eur Surg Res. 2000, vol. 32, no. 1, p. 43-48.

It is in particular in the cases of large or recurrent hernias that the surgical repair or herniorrhaphy makes use of an inert, non-resorbable mesh implant, as described above. The mesh implant is inserted to cover the area of the abdominal wall defect without sewing together the surrounding muscles. This can be done under local or general anesthesia using a laparoscope or an open incision technique.

Among the laparoscopic techniques used, are the trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) technique and the totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) technique. With the TAPP technique, the pre-peritoneal space is accessed from the abdominal cavity, whereupon the mesh implant is placed between the peritoneum and the transversalis fascia. With the TEP technique, the mesh implant is again placed in the retroperitoneal space, but the space is accessed without violating the abdominal cavity. An open and minimal invasive technique is the Lichtenstein hernia repair technique, in which the upper edge of the mesh implant is attached to the outer side of the internal oblique and the lower edge of the mesh implant is attached to the aponeurotic tissue covering the pubis.

Another open minimal invasive technique is the mesh-plug technique comprising attaching a mesh implant, as described above in reference to the Lichtenstein technique, but also inserting a plug pushing the peritoneum in a direction towards the abdominal cavity.

The mesh implant, inserted with any of the above described techniques, is used in order to support the regenerating tissue with minimal tension. It works by mechanical closure of the defect in the abdominal wall and by inducing a strong scar tissue around the mesh implant fibres. The commercially available hernia mesh implants are often made of various, inert, non-resorbable plastics, typically polypropylene, and suffers from the same disadvantages, as described above in connection with mesh implants used for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in general. However, implantation of large pieces of mesh implants in the abdominal wall cavity, also leads to considerable restriction thereof. In a study performed by Junge et al, JUNGE, K, et al. Elasticity of the anterior abdominal wall and impact for reparation of incisional hernias using mesh implants. Hernia. 2001, no. 5, p. 113-118, the elasticity of the abdominal wall was measured and compared to that of commercially available non-resorbable hernia mesh implants. It was assumed that the flexibility of the abdominal wall is restricted by extensive implantation of large mesh implants, the more so if the mesh implants are integrated into scar tissue. In addition, the unphysiological stretching capability of the mesh implants contrast with the highly elastic abdominal wall and can give rise to shearing forces, favouring increased local remodelling and thus recurrence at the margin. It was concluded that mesh implants used for repairing inscisional hernia should have an elasticity of at least 25% in vertical stretching and 15% in the horizontal stretching when subjected to a tensile strength of 16 N/cm, in order to achieve almost physiological properties.

The progress within hernia repair mesh implant development, as well as in the development of mesh implants for the use of reconstruction of soft tissue defects in general, has been towards mesh implants with less mass in order to minimize foreign body reactions, and larger pore sizes, which on one hand reduce the mass of the mesh implant and on the other facilitate ingrowth of tissue.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,264 B (TÖRMÄLÄ) Nov. 20, 2001 describes a porous, flexible and fibrous hernia mesh, which is intended to be implanted close to hernia defects. The mesh comprises two functional layers, wherein the first layer is a rapidly degradable polymer layer facing the fascia, and wherein the second layer is a more slowly degradable polymer layer. The first polymer layer has a fast resorption profile, approximately 14 days, said first layer promotes scar tissue formation due to inflammatory reactions induced by the polymer degradation and due to the porous structure of the first layer. The second polymer layer has a longer resorption time, approximately 6 months, and thus supports the area until the scar tissue is strong enough to resist pressure and prevent recurrent hernia formation. An optional third dense, thin, bioabsorbable layer is described, which prevents agents that could cause tissue to tissue adhesion from moving from the hernia area through the mesh and onto the surrounding tissue during the first weeks after the operation. The mesh described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,264 acts as a temporary support until connective scar tissue has strengthened enough and can replace the mesh, when the second layer finally degrades.

However, U.S. 6,319,264 is silent as to the load situation found over the tissue defect area and to the modulus of elasticity of the hernia mesh. In the above described mesh, only the second layer is designed to support the tissue during the regenerative phase. The mesh material is by the body regarded as an inert material, in that no major changes in mechanical properties are observed until degradation has reached to such a point where the material starts to crack with a more or less catastrophic change in mechanical properties taking place.

It is known that the primary wound healing usually occurs over a time period of 14 days followed by a remodelling period, which may extend up to and over 6 months. During this remodelling period, the newly formed tissue will undergo several phases, during which the tissue gradually becomes more specific to support the various stress situations found in the area. The inventors of the present invention therefore suggest that a device used to temporarily support the tissue defect in the area where the tissue is exposed to various stress situations should be so designed as to allow the newly formed tissue to gradually take over the load during the remodelling phase and thus build up the strength and compliance needed to take over the full load once the support from the temporarily implanted device is lost. Following the teachings of Junge et al, a mesh implant used for reconstruction of soft tissue defects, should have an elasticity that is compatible with the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, so that the flexibility of said tissue is not substantially restricted.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a resorbable mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, the mechanical properties of which stimulates the ingrowing, regenerating tissue, and at the meantime allowing the regenerated tissue to gradually take over the load found in the tissue defect area until the mesh implant substantially loses it mechanical properties and subsequently is completely resorbed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymeric mesh implant kit. Still another object is to provide a use of such a mesh implant and use of such a kit in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the mesh implant comprises two materials A and B,

FIG. 2 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the mesh implant comprises three materials A-C,

FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section of one structural design of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 4 shows the modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant shown in FIG. 1 as a function of time (not to scale),

FIG. 5 shows the modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as a function of time (not to scale).

An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, wherein the mesh implant comprises two resorbable polymeric materials, material A and material B. Material A is characterized by a time of substantial degradation, t_(A), and a modulus of elasticity, E_(A). Consequently, material B is characterized by a time of substantial degradation, t_(B), and a modulus of elasticity, E_(B). Material B is substantially degraded at a later point in time, following the time of implantation of the mesh implant, than material A, i.e. t_(A)<t_(B). The time of substantial degradation herein being defined as the point in time at which the material substantially loses its mechanical properties, or its mechanical integrity, even though fragments of the material may still be present in the body. That is, the point in time at which the mechanical integrity of the material no longer provide the mesh implant with mechanical properties that contribute to the object of the inventive mesh implant. For instance, the mechanical properties of the material may have been lost at the time of substantial degradation, so that the mechanical strength of the material is less than approximately 30% of its initial strength.

The modulus of elasticity of material A is significantly higher than the modulus of elasticity of material B, i.e. E_(A)>E_(B), and consequently, the elongation of material A is significantly lower than the elongation of material B. It is here understood that E_(A) and E_(B) is the modulus of elasticity of the respective material in the present configuration. Thus, a material A will, for example, generally have a lower E_(A) if the material A is designed as having a perforated structure than if the same material A exhibits a homogenous structure. For the different materials of the inventive mesh implant, a modulus of elasticity is preferably within the range of 300 kPa−3 GPa. It is to be noted that the modulus of elasticity of a material need not to have the same value in all directions, thus the modulus of elasticity in for instance the vertical direction need not to be identical with the modulus of elasticity in the horizontal direction.

t_(A) is in the time range of 14 days-1 month after the time of implantation, i.e. t=t₀, and t_(B) is at least 3-18 months after the time of implantation, preferably in the time range of 6-12 months. Here it is also noted that even though it may be difficult to exactly determine a specific time of substantial degradation for a certain material A, the substantial degradation time t_(A) may for instance be accompanied with some uncertainty, for instance ±5 days, this uncertainty is insignificant in comparison with the much longer substantial degradation time frame of the second material B.

In the mesh implant according to the embodiment described above, material A and material B can be structurally designed as two separate perforated layers, respectively, arranged on top of each other. Also, material A and material B can be partly or fully incorporated with each other, which will be explained in further detail below. After implantation the mesh implant can be fixed with for instance suitable sutures, staples, fixation, pins, adhesives or the like. In some applications of the implant, the pressure from the surrounding tissue may be enough for initial fixation until newly regenerating tissue anchors the implant by tissue trough growth.

Material A acts as an initial and temporary support during the primary wound healing time period t=t₀−t_(A), during which E_(A) is high and substantially constant, allowing the elongation of the mesh implant to be no more than in the range of 0 to 20%, but more preferably in the range of 0-10%.

Material A is substantially degraded at time t_(A), leaving material B to alone carry the load applied to the tissue defect area. However, due to the significantly lower modulus of elasticity of material B, part of the load will be transferred onto the surrounding and ingrowing tissue. The mechanical stimulation of the wound area will thus stimulate the cells to deposite new extracellular matrix as well as stimulate remodelling of the existing tissue to be oriented according to the existing load pattern and gradually take over the load carried by the mesh implant during the time period of t_(A)−t_(B). Thus, material B facilitates the mechanical stimulation of the surrounding tissue, e.g. aponeurotic structures, to develop the strength needed to finally take over the total load applied to the tissue defect area when the mesh implant is substantially degraded and subsequently completely resorbed.

FIG. 4 shows the modulus of elasticity, E, of the mesh implant shown in FIG. 1 comprising material A and material B, as a function of time, t. During t=t₀−t_(A), material A practically carries the entire load over the tissue defect area due to the higher modulus of elasticity of said material. E is substantially constant with respect to time and thus corresponds to E_(A) during said time period. As described above, E is during the time period of t=t₀−t_(A) high enough not to allow any substantial elongation of the mesh implant. A more or less sudden decrease in E is observed around t=t_(A) when material A is substantially degraded. During t=t_(A)−t_(B), E=E_(B) since the load over the tissue defect area is carried by material B alone, as described above. Preferably, E_(B) corresponds to an elongation of the mesh implant that is compatible with the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, so that the flexibility of said tissue is not substantially restricted.

In an alternative embodiment of the inventive mesh implant, the mesh implant comprises a third resorbable polymeric material C, characterised by t_(C) and E_(C) with t_(A)<t_(B)<t_(C), and E_(A)>E_(B)>E_(C). Also here it is understood that E_(C) is the modulus of elasticity of material C in its present configuration, as explained above. Thus, the mesh implant comprises in the alternative embodiment three materials A, B and C. In said alternative embodiment the materials A through C can be structurally designed as three separate perforated layers, arranged on top of each other, as seen in FIG. 3. The materials A through C can also be partly or fully incorporated with each other, as explained in further detail below. Two of the materials can be partly or fully incorporated with each other, but not the third, wherein any combination of materials may be possible.

When the mesh implant according to the alternative embodiment is inserted into the body (see discussion above that refers to implantation of the mesh implant according to the embodiment comprising material A and B) material A, due to its high modulus of elasticity, acts as an initial and temporary support during the primary wound healing time period t=t₀−t_(A). Material A is substantially degraded at time t_(A), at which time material A substantially loses its mechanical properties, as described above. Material B, due to its significantly higher modulus of elasticity than material C, then carries the load applied to the tissue defect area, but due to the significantly lower modulus of elasticity of material B than of material A, part of the load will be transferred onto the surrounding and ingrowing tissue. At time t_(B) material B is substantially degraded, leaving material C to carry the load applied to the soft tissue defect area. Due to the even lower modulus of elasticity of material C, further load will be transferred to the surrounding tissue. As described above, material B and material C thus allow a biomechanical stimulation on the tissue, that will enable it to regenerate and remodel into a load bearing tissue, e.g. aponeurotic structures, tendons or ligaments, that gradually will take over the load carried by the mesh implant during the time period of t_(A)−t_(C).

E as a function of time for the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is shown graphically in FIG. 5. The time t_(A) is, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, approximately 14 days-1 month, and t_(C) is at least 3-18 months after the time of implantation, preferably in the time range of 6-12 months. t_(B) can thus be anywhere between 14 days and 18 months, as long as t_(A)<t_(B)<t_(C). In said alternative embodiment, material C acts as the last substantially degraded material of the mesh implant and E_(C) preferably corresponds to an elongation of the mesh implant that is compatible to the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, so that the flexibility of said tissue is not substantially restricted. Thus, E_(B) can have a predetermined value anywhere between E_(A) and E_(C).

The mesh implant according to the present invention, thus strives to imitate the ideal E versus t situation, shown as a dotted line in FIGS. 4 and 5, of a resorbable mesh implant used to temporarily support soft tissue defects during reconstruction thereof. In the ideal situation, E of the mesh implant is during the primary wound healing time period substantially constant and high enough not to allow any substantial elongation of the mesh implant, whereupon the mesh implant is degraded with a gradual decrease in E so that the newly formed tissue may gradually take over the load applied to the tissue defect area during the remodelling phase. In the ideal situation, the mesh implant thus biomechanically stimulates the surrounding tissue to build up the strength and compliance needed to take over the full load once the support from the temporarily implanted device is lost after at least 3-18 months. During the final stage of the remodelling phase, the modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant preferably corresponds to an elongation of the mesh implant that is compatible with the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, so that the flexibility of said tissue is not substantially restricted. The modulus of elasticity of various soft tissues varies over a broad range from tendons having elastic modulus around 700 MPa to very low modulus found in elastine rich tissue where modulus can be around 300 kPa. The modulus above is only approximate values due to the often non-linear behaviour of soft tissue. If the inventive mesh implant is intended to be used in the reconstruction of defects in the abdominal wall, following the teachings of Junge et al, the elasticity of the mesh implant, during the final stage of the remodelling phase, preferably corresponds to an elongation of 18-32% when subjected to a load of 16 N/cm.

Since a high modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant corresponds to a low elongation thereof, the ideal situation can just as well be described by ways of elongation of the mesh implant as a function of time. In that case the mesh implant is preferred to have a very low and substantially constant elongation during the primary wound healing period followed by a gradual increase in elongation. During the final stage of the remodelling phase, the mesh implant preferably has an elongation as described above.

The inventive mesh implant can thus comprise any number of materials, as long as it strives to imitate the ideal E versus t situation. However, due to manufacturing reasons, the number of materials are preferably not more than five and more preferred 3-4.

In yet an alternative embodiment of the inventive mesh, the mesh implant according to any of the above described embodiments, can comprise a further resorbable polymeric material D (not shown), which has essentially the same characteristics as material A, with respect to time of substantial degradation, t_(D). Material D can, in fact, be the same material as material A, but present in another configuration such that E_(D) is not equal to E_(A). Material D is adapted to provide an extra supportive structure during t=t₀−t_(A) and enables more ingrowth of fibrous tissue. Material D can be structurally designed as a separate perforated layer or can be partly or fully incorporated with any of the other materials of the mesh implant, see further discussion below.

The mesh implant can also be provided with still a further material E (not shown), which material E is substantially degraded approximately at the same point in time as any of the other materials present in the mesh implant, and thus in fact be the same material as any of the other said materials. Material E can be present in another configuration than that of the material with which it has approximately the same time of substantial degradation, so that E_(E) is not equal to the modulus of elasticity of that material, or material E can have approximately the same modulus of elasticity as that material. Material E can be structurally designed as a separate perforated layer or can be partly or fully incorporated with any of the other materials of the mesh implant, see further discussion below.

Optionally a thin resorbable film (not shown) can be applied to the mesh implant, in any of the above described embodiments, in order to prevent adhesion of the mesh implant to surrounding tissues. If the mesh implant is intended to be used in the repair of abdominal wall defects, the thin film is preferably applied on the surface of the mesh implant facing towards the abdominal cavity in order to in particular prevent adhesion onto the intestines. Said film is preferably a thin hydrophilic film, for instance a carbohydrate film, with a thickness in the range of 1-300 microns, that forms a hydrogel structure when the film is brought into contact with fluids contained in the tissue.

The inventive mesh implant preferably has mechanical properties that enables it to be inserted into the body with any conventionally used technique for implantation of mesh implants used for reconstruction of soft tissue defects, for instance any of the techniques described in reference to the implantation of hernia mesh implants. A mesh implant is herein being defined as an implant device with any type of through going perforation, including pores, naturally occurring perforations or artificially created perforations, which extend from the proximal surface to the distal surface of the implant device, so that there is a communication between said proximal and distal surface. The materials of the inventive mesh implant, can be fibres made from any bioresorbable polymer, copolymer, polymer blend or polymer composite, or can be combined assorted bioresorbable polymer parts, as long as the materials have suitable predetermined times of substantial degradation and modulus of elasticity, so that when the materials are combined, the inventive mesh implant strives to imitate the ideal E versus t situation of a resorbable mesh implant used to temporarily support soft tissue defects during reconstruction, as described above.

Non-limiting examples of such synthetic resorbable materials are various combinations of the monomers glycolide, lactide and all stereoismers thereof, trimethylene carbonate, epsilon-caprolactone, dioxanone or dioxepanone. Depending on the desired mechanical properties and the choice of manufacturing method, several of the homopolymers or copolymers containing two or more of the above-mentioned monomers can be used to manufacture the mesh structure. Yet other examples of synthetic resorbable polymers that can be utilized are various aliphatic polyurethanes, such as polyureaurethanes, polyesterurethanes and polycarbonateurethanes, and also materials such as polyphosphazenes or polyorthoesters.

The materials of the inventive mesh implant can have a woven or knitted structure with pores of a suitable pore size, or can have a non-woven, for instance electro-spun, structure, wherein the (electro-spun) non-woven structure can further be furnished with man made through and through holes. When two or more materials are incorporated with each other, fibres of said materials, respectively, can be jointly woven, knitted or non-woven into the same suitable structure. Also various materials can be spun into fibres which are braided, twisted into a multifilament produced from two or more materials, which multifilament is woven, knitted or non-woven into said suitable structure. Preferably however, material A, and D, has, or is incorporated into, a porous, woven or knitted structure with a pore size preferably in the range of 50-4000 microns, or a non-woven, for instance electro-spun structure, since a porous structure with a pore size in the above mentioned range, or a non-woven structure, enable for fibroblasts and other connective tissue cells to grow into the pores, or into the non-woven structure, during the primary wound healing period. However, material A and D, need not to have, or be incorporated into, the same structural design, thus material A can have, or be incorporated into, a woven or knitted structure while material D has, or is incorporated into, a non-woven structure and vice versa.

The last substantially degraded material of the inventive mesh implant, preferably has, or is incorporated into, a porous woven or knitted structure, with a pore size preferably in the range of 0.5-4 mm, more preferred 1-3 mm, in order to minimize the mass of the mesh implant as well as maximizing the tissue supporting effect of said last substantially degraded material.

Any other material can have, or be incorporated into, either a porous woven or knitted structure, or a non-woven, for instance electro-spun structure. If said materials have, or are incorporated into, a porous woven or knitted structure it is preferred, however not mandatory, that also this structure has a pore size in the range of 0.5-4 mm, more preferred 1-3 mm for reasons as described above.

The mesh implant can also be provided with trough going macro-pores, that extend from the proximal surface to the distal surface of the mesh implant, in order to further facilitate the communication between the proximal and distal surfaces of the mesh implant.

Shown schematically in FIG. 3, is a cross section of a possible structural design of the inventive mesh implant comprising materials A, B and C, wherein material A has a non-woven structure on top of material B and C, which are incorporated with each other into a woven or knitted, porous structure. However, it is pointed out that the structural design shown in FIG. 3, is not preferred to the other possible structural designs of the inventive mesh implant.

The inventive mesh can further comprise bioactive or therapeutic substances naturally present in humans or of foreign origin. These substances include, but are not limited to, proteins, polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids or any combinations thereof. Especially considered are growth factors, such as PDGF, TGF or FGF, or components of the naturally occurring extracellular matrix, including cytokines, fibronectins, collagens, and proteoglycans such as hyaluronic acid. Therapeutic substances that are considered include, but are not limited to, antibiotic drugs and pain relieving substances. Bioactive or therapeutic substances of human or foreign origin can be entrapped within the porous structure of the implant or incorporated through covalent or other chemical or physical bonding, in an active state or as precursors to be activated upon any physical or chemical stimuli or modification.

The present invention also refers to a polymeric mesh implant kit. The kit comprises at least a first and a second material, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second material is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the first material and wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first material, however any number of the above mentioned materials can be present in the kit. The materials are provided in the kit as separate structurally designed layers and/or as materials fully or partly incorporated with each other, wherein any combination of materials is possible, by means of any of the above described ways. Each material has a predetermined modulus of elasticity in its present configuration, as defined above, and a predetermined time of substantial degradation, as defined above. Thus, the user of the kit can combine any number of materials into a polymeric mesh implant, as defined above and that strives to imitate the ideal E versus t situation described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, that is tailored for each individual patient and for said patients specific needs, depending on the nature of the soft tissue defect to be repaired. At least one of the materials preferably has a time of substantial degradation within the time range of 14 days-1 month, and preferably has a predetermined modulus of elasticity that does not allow an elongation of the mesh implant, once combined, to be no more than in the range of 0-20%, preferably no more than in the range of 0-10%. At least one of the materials preferably has a time of substantial degradation within the time range of 3-18 months, preferably 6-12 months, and preferably has a modulus of elasticity that corresponds to an elongation of the mesh implant, once combined, that is compatible with the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, so that the flexibility of said tissue is not substantially restricted. As described above, the materials can have a porous, woven or knitted, or a non-woven, for instance electro-spun structure, wherein the (electro-spun) non-woven structure can further be furnished with man made through and through holes. At least one of the materials, or at least one combination of materials, can be provided with a thin resorbable film, preferably a thin hydrophilic film as described above, in order to prevent adhesion of the mesh implant, once combined, onto surrounding tissue. Said film can also be provided in the kit as a separate item and be combined with the selected materials, so that the mesh implant, once combined, is provided with said film for the above mentioned reason. Preferably, at least one of the materials of the kit that have a time of substantial degradation within the time range of 14 days-1 month, has a porous structure with a pore size in the range of 50-4000 microns or has a non-woven, for instance electro-spun structure, for reasons as described above. Preferably at least one of the materials of the kit that have a time of substantial degradation within the time range of 3-18 months, has a porous structure with a pore size in the range of 0.5-4 mm microns, more preferred 1-3 mm, for reasons as described above. Further, at least one of the materials, or at least one combination of materials, of the kit can comprise bioactive or therapeutic substances naturally present in humans or of foreign origin, as described above.

However, it is understood that the skilled person is capable of choosing suitable materials, as defined above, in order to construe a polymeric mesh implant that is tailored for each individual patient and for said patients specific needs, depending on the nature of the soft tissue defect to be repaired, without having at hand the inventive kit. Therefore, the present invention also encompass the tailoring of a specific polymeric mesh implant for the specific soft tissue defect to be reconstructed, by choosing and combining suitable materials.

As previously stated, a mesh implant according to certain embodiments of the present invention can include any type of perforation, including pores, naturally occurring perforations or artificially created perforations. Further, as also mentioned above, a mesh implant can be made from multifilaments, which are knitted or woven together into a mesh structure. By definition, a multifilament is a fiber comprising several individual fiber filaments. In an alternative terminology, the multifilament is referred to as a yarn comprising several individual fibers or filaments. If the multifilament is not too dense, there will be spaces, so-called interstices, between the individual fiber filaments. If the interstices are connected and continuous, small objects like different types of cells can thread their way between the individual filaments and thereby through the multifilament. In effect, a through-going perforation has been created in the multifilament, and consequently the mesh implant has been provided with through-going perforations. These perforations will create a capillary action that draws bodily fluids, such as blood, into the interstices of the multifilament, which basically soaks the mesh in blood. Blood will then surround not only the mesh fibers but also the individual fiber filaments. This allows for infiltration of both fibroblasts, which build connective tissue, as well as cell types belonging to the immune response system, something which may prove essential to the resistance of so-called mesh infection, under certain circumstances. Examples of cell types that are important to the immune response include monocytes, which outside of the blood circulatory system convert into macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, whose sizes range from about 7 μm to about 20 μm.

To allow for a quick perfusion of the mesh by blood after implantation it has been found that knitting the mesh from yarns made up of several individual fibers having a cross sectional area in the range from about 75 μm² to about 8000 μm² (the corresponding diameter for a fiber having a round cross sectional area is approximately 10 μm to 100 μm) is particularly useful, but more preferably the cross sectional area of the individual fibers in the yarn is found in the range 150 μm² to 2000 μm² (the corresponding diameter for a fiber having a round cross sectional area is approximately 14 μm to 50 μm).

The mesh can be knitted from two or more yarns where each yarn is characterized by having a certain cross-sectional area, a certain cross-sectional shape and being made up by a unique chemical composition and having specific mechanical properties dependent upon the method of fabrication. The cross sectional shape of the individual fibers making up the yarn is one factor which determines how close the fibers can be packed and thus how large the interstices between the individual fibers can become. It is thought that the size of the interstices is an important factor for the capillary force responsible for the rapid perfusion of the mesh by blood after implantation. Another way of controlling the size of the interstices is to twist the yarn, wherein a hard twisting with many turns per length unit reduces the size of the interstices. With suitable combinations it is thereby possible to create through-going perforations or pores in a yarn and consequently in a mesh implant, where the pores have, for example, a size from about 50 μm to about 4000 μm.

The yarn is preferably made up of three to one hundred individual single filaments. These can be directly spun by any fiber spinning technique or combined to form a yarn having the number of single filaments of interest. Mesh can be knitted with a first type of yarn made up by five to fifteen single filaments and the yarn having a linear density in the range of 60 denier to 240 denier, and more preferably found in the range of 100 denier to 180 denier; and/or with a second type of yarn made up by sixty to one hundred single filaments and the yarn having a linear density in the range of 120 denier to 280 denier, and more preferably found in the range of 140 denier to 200 denier. Of particular interest for certain embodiments of the invention is meshes knitted from both types of yarns described above, to create a mix of larger and smaller interstices randomly spread over the mesh surface.

As an example, a mesh implant according to certain embodiments of the present invention can be produced by a so-called warp-knitting technique, wherein the mesh implant comprises a first yarn, which has a first degradation time and which is made up by eight to twelve single filaments and the yarn has a linear density in a range of about 130 denier to about 160 denier, and a second yarn, which has a second degradation time, being longer than the first degradation time, and which is made up by seventy to ninety single filaments and the yarn has a linear density in a range of about 140 denier to 180 denier. To be more specific, the first yarn can be made from a copolymer mainly composed of glycolide monomer, e.g. more than 80 weight-%, which is meltspun into ten single filaments with a linear density of the yarn being in a range of 135 denier to 150 denier, and the second yarn can be made from a copolymer mainly composed of L-lactide monomer, e.g. more than 80 weight-%, which is meltspun into eighty-six filaments with a linear density of the yarn being in the range of 150 denier to 190 denier.

In an alternative embodiment, the first yarn is made from a copolymer mainly composed of para-dioxanone monomer, e.g. more than 80 weight-%, which is meltspun into ten single filaments with a linear density of the yarn being in the range of 135 denier to 150 denier.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the above described exemplifying embodiments thereof and that several modifications are conceivable within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An at least partially resorbable mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, wherein the mesh implant comprises: a first material in a first arrangement; a second material in a second arrangement, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time in a body than the first material; and wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises a multifilament with interstices that create a capillary effect for cells within the body.
 2. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises a multifilament provided with perforations.
 3. A mesh implant according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the perforations are through-going with a size in the range of 50 μm to 4000 μm.
 4. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a multifilament with individual filaments having a cross-sectional area from about 75 μm² to about 8000 μm².
 5. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a multifilament with 5 to 15 individual filaments and the multifilament having a linear density in the range of 60 denier to 240 denier.
 6. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the first material is made from a copolymer composed of at least 80 weight-% glycolide monomer or para-dioxanone monomer.
 7. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a multifilament with individual filaments having a cross-sectional area from about 75 μm² to about 8000 μm².
 8. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a multifilament with 60 to 100 individual filaments and the multifilament having a linear density in the range of 120 denier to 280 denier.
 9. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the second material is made from a copolymer composed of at least 80 weight-% L-lactide monomer.
 10. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a multifilament with individual filaments having a cross-sectional area from about 180 μm² to about 2000 μm².
 11. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a multifilament with 5 to 15 individual filaments and the multifilament having a linear density in the range of from about 100 denier to about 180 denier.
 12. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a multifilament with individual filaments having a cross-sectional area from about 180 μm² to about 2000 μm².
 13. A mesh implant according to claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a multifilament with 60 to 100 individual filaments and the multifilament having a linear density in the range of from about 140 denier to 200 denier.
 14. An at least partially resorbable mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, wherein the mesh implant comprises: a first material in a first arrangement; a second material in a second arrangement, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time in a body than the first material; and wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises interstices dimensioned and arranged such that cells within the body grow into the interstices.
 15. A mesh implant according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises interstices dimensioned and arranged such that connective tissue within the body grows into the interstices during the primary wound healing period.
 16. An at least partially resorbable mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, wherein the mesh implant comprises: a first material in a first arrangement; a second material in a second arrangement, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time in a body than the first material; and wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises interstices dimensioned and arranged such that cells within the body are drawn into the interstices. 